Biplane Wooden Toy
Includes the STEP CAD file.
A walnut-and-maple wooden biplane toy with a spinning propeller, built using printed 2D templates traced from 3D CAD files. Free CAD files available.
I really enjoyed making this wooden biplane for my younger grandchildren. As a former Air Force pilot, I wanted to share my aviation enthusiasm.
Building this wooden toy is not that technically complicated, but does require some patience and willingness to use templates to cut out the various parts. Tools like a drill press and bandsaw help, but aren’t mandatory.
Supplies
Materials & Hardware
- Walnut (fuselage and wing pieces)
- Maple (fuselage and wing pieces)
- Birch wheels, purchased
- White nylon washer (between the propeller and the cowling)
Consumables
- Wiping varnish
- Photo-mount spray adhesive (templates)
Tools
- Drill press (helpful, not required)
- Bandsaw (helpful, not required)
Pulled from the build notes below — quantities weren’t specified in the original write-up.
Construction Notes
The downloadable zip file contains a .stp file for dimensional reference and template creation.
A key construction tip: print actual-size paper templates from the CAD software, then either trace them directly onto your material or adhere the templates in place with photo-mount spray adhesive before cutting.
A white nylon washer between the propeller and the cowling keeps the propeller spinning freely without wearing into the wood.
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